Flu shots offered beginning this week

Staff report

POSTED:October 25, 2007 5:00 a.m.

Want to avoid the flu bug this year? The best protection you can get is your annual flu shot. The Liberty and Long County Health Departments will kick off their flu vaccination season this month.The Long County Health Department will offer flu vaccinations Oct. 10-12 at its clinic at 57 North Macon St. in Ludowici during normal clinic hours without an appointment.Beginning Oct. 13, clients need to make an appointment for a flu shot by calling (912) 545-2107.The Liberty County Health Department will begin offering flu shots to the public Oct. 15 at their clinics in Hinesville at 1113 E. Oglethorpe Hwy. and in Riceboro at the Head Start Center on Highway 119. Clients are encouraged to call 876-2173 before visiting the clinics to be sure vaccine is available, as new shipments of vaccine are expected to arrive periodically throughout the season.The health department recommends an annual flu shot for everyone, with only a few exceptions for people with certain medical conditions (nurses will discuss these exemptions with each individual). The flu shot is especially important for people at high risk for flu complications, which include children 6 months of age through 5 years old, pregnant women, people 50 and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, people who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities, and people who live with or work with those at high risk for flu complications. Every year, flu kills about 36,000 people in the U.S.Medicaid and Medicare clients should bring their insurance information to the clinics.For those not covered by Medicaid or Medicare, the cost is $25.